HASSAN: Hassan airport project has taken wing after two decades with the Civil Aviation Ministry directing the state government to acquire an additional 200 acres for the purpose recently. The district authority had acquired 536 acres in 2007 for this.
The airport project is a brainchild of MP and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda. The foundation stone had been laid one-and-a-half decades ago near Bhuvanahalli, in the outskirts of Hassan city.Senior officials of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the Director General of Civil Aviation had visited the land earmarked for the airstrip and had refused to clear the project citing technical reasons.Later, the state government decided to construct an airport after the Centre gave it the go-ahead.
In 2016, the then Deputy Commissioner Anbukumar had chaired a meeting of land owners and revenue officials to fix the compensation to acquire additional land and had issued notices to farmers of Bhuvanahalli, Sankenahalli, Lakshmisagara, Thendihalli, Davalapura and G Milanahalli.Hassan business community is of the view that industries and tourism in the district would get a boost with the completion of a full-fledged airstrip.
The airport could have been completed a decade ago if politicians had shown commitment, its members added.Initially, the state government had acquired 536 acres across seven villages. Sources said that farmers have decided to give up their land if the district authority fixes a better compensation rate. The farmers are also demanding a job for one of the members of their families. According to PWD Minister H D Revanna, steps will be taken to acquire 200 acres of land following the directive of the Civil Aviation Ministry.S Siddarth, project engineer of Jupiter Aviation, said that his company will start work on the project immediately after the state government hands over the land.
Progress so far
Foundation stone laid for airport project 15 years ago 536 acres acquired
Farmers ready to give land if compensation is ‘good’
Jupiter Aviation signs MoU with state govt to build airport under PPP model